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Blackmer, Peter Dutton

College of Education and Social Services

2005

Ed. D.

This research explores the strategies, vehicles and means by which self-disclosed, "out" gay and lesbian employees manage his or her homosexual identity within the contexts of the workplace. Specifically, the author explores stories, activities, and efforts that characterize individual gay and lesbian employee's intersection of the public, professional identity and their private, sexual orientation identity. Within the paradigm of qualitative research, the author conducted a critical ethnography that gathered in depth, semi-structured interview data from 13 respondents from the primary data collection stage and eight respondents from a pilot project. By relying on the research method of grounded theory, qualitative data collection and analysis the author constructed and advanced an integrated model of identity management which recognizes the interdependence of assessment and communication across the domains of the intrapersonal/psychological, interpersonal/social, and organizational/cultural. The author also suggests an alternative to the traditional linear staged-model of identity development and identity management. This revised model recognizes the dynamic movement between stages of development as well as management based on ever-changing aspects of the workplace.